Solar Power World

University of Hawai’i branch campus to install solar carports with battery system

Kelly Pickerel — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:42:18 +0000

The University of Hawai’i–West O’ahu intends to spend $14 million on a solar and storage project sited on campus. The project will feature solar carports over existing parking areas. Planning is underway, and construction is anticipated to begin in August 2026. The university expects the project to produce approximately 2.38 million kWh annually, which would likely equate…

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UMass study finds states approve most solar projects in under 1 year

Billy Ludt — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:34:27 +0000

A new study analyzing hundreds of renewable energy projects across the United States finds that most wind and solar facilities under state jurisdiction receive permits within roughly a year and that nine in 10 are ultimately approved. The study, co-led by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, examines permitting data for 460 projects across…

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Advocacy groups say CPUC decision ‘virtually ensures’ no community solar will get built in California

Kelly Pickerel — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:57:26 +0000

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a proposed decision in the Community Solar Proceeding (A.22-05-022) that virtually ensures that no community solar projects will be developed at a time when the state is facing surging energy prices, states the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “With this proposed decision that crushes any chance of a…

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Insulation manufacturer commissions 3rd rooftop solar project

Billy Ludt — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:23:10 +0000

Independent power producer REC Solar and commercial solar developer and EPC Dynamic Energy completed an 881-kW rooftop array at Kingspan Insulation North America’s factory in Mendota, Illinois. This is Kingspan’s third solar project in North America, contributing to the company’s goal to achieve 60% direct renewable use by 2030. The project uses 50,000 sq ft…

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Construction begins on 102-MW Murch Solar project in Michigan

Kelly Pickerel — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:10:04 +0000

Greensol, the U.S. subsidiary of Greening, has started construction on the 102-MW Murch Solar project in Van Buren County, Michigan. Heelstone Renewable Energy, a Qualitas Energy company, is the project developer. Greensol is Greening’s execution arm in the United States for the construction of renewable energy projects, integrating the group’s global experience with technical capabilities…

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Solar EPC Mortenson acquires Nor-Cal Controls

Billy Ludt — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:50:55 +0000

Mortenson has acquired Nor-Cal Controls, a controls systems provider specializing in energy management for solar, battery energy storage and microgrid applications. The acquisition will support Mortenson’s ability to work with increasingly complex energy and infrastructure projects by integrating these control systems. Nor-Cal Controls uses an open-architecture control system that work directly with the electrical grid…

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Two Savion solar projects completed in the Midwest

Kelly Pickerel — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:45:15 +0000

Tango Holdings — a joint venture between Savion Equity (a subsidiary of Shell plc) and a fund managed by the Ares Infrastructure Opportunities strategy — has commenced commercial operations at two new solar projects in Indiana and Ohio, delivering a combined 200 MW of capacity to the U.S. grid. Elkhart County Solar Project (Indiana): Construction…

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Illinois county courthouse cuts ribbon on 1.3-MW solar project

Kelly Pickerel — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:16:12 +0000

Cook County in Illinois recently celebrated the completion of a solar project at its Skokie courthouse. County officials held a ribbon cutting this week along with solar installer Ameresco. “We set ambitious goals to combat climate change, and we are achieving them,” said Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. “These solar…

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EG4, OutBack Power offer residential battery leasing programs

Kelly Pickerel — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:33:36 +0000

OutBack Power and EG4 Electronics are now offering separate battery leasing program to homeowners. The OutBack Power Advantage Program and EG4 Advantage Program enable homeowners to access a “professionally owned and managed” battery system for residential use, with installation flexibility and ongoing program services included. “Homeowners are increasingly looking for dependable backup power, but the…

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Sitetracker unveils Scout AI platform

Kelly Pickerel — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:06:23 +0000

Asset management platform Sitetracker has launched its new agentic AI platform Scout, which is designed to help infrastructure owners, operators and contractors gain insights and drive automation within their operations. “Our customers are looking to create compounding competitive advantages,” said Giuseppe Incitti, CEO of Sitetracker. “Scout delivers by providing easy to deploy agentic workflows that…

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Enervus launches AI platform for project workflow execution

Kelly Pickerel — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:27:48 +0000

Enverus has launched Enverus ONE, an AI platform that combines workflows for energy professionals. Enverus ONE pairs frontier AI models with Astra, Enverus’ proprietary energy model. Frontier models provide general intelligence. Astra provides the operating context required to evaluate assets, validate costs, interpret contracts and resolve energy workflows that generic AI cannot efficiently execute with…

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American-made FranklinWH Energy Storage keeps manufacturing local SPW tours FranklinWH residential battery facilities in California.

Kelly Pickerel — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:50:23 +0000

While rooftop solar panels make a visible statement that a homeowner is an environmental steward and interested in improving utility consumption, residential energy storage systems provide real control. And that’s what residential battery brand FranklinWH aims to do — offer a suite of products that give households more control of their energy usage. The “WH”…

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SPW tours FranklinWH residential battery facilities in California. appeared first on Solar Power World.

California legislature considers VPPs and solar-charged battery compensation

Kelly Pickerel — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:00:15 +0000

California is taking steps to approve virtual power plants (VPP) to compete in statewide reliability markets. The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Commerce voted today to approve the Clean Local Power Act (SB 913). Introduced by Sen. Josh Becker (Menlo Park), SB 913 would give solar-charged batteries, electric vehicle chargers, heat pumps and other…

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ABB manufacturing facility in SC to meet 80% of electricity needs with on-site solar

Kelly Pickerel — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:20:33 +0000

ABB’s 47-year-old electrification service manufacturing facility in Florence, South Carolina, now meets 80% of its electricity with power from a nearby solar array. “We saw an opportunity to reduce our environmental impact while simultaneously improving our bottom line and resilience,” said Mateusz Zajac, Sustainability Leader for ABB Electrification Service. “Our Florence facility and its staff…

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Maxeon claims ‘financial distress’ in Singapore court

Kelly Pickerel — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:08:49 +0000

In an April filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), solar panel manufacturer Maxeon revealed it has applied to be placed under “judicial management” in its headquartered country of Singapore. This is a method of debt restructuring when a company is under financial distress, but is not a bankruptcy filing. Maxeon stated that…

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